The Butler weekly times., 1887-03-16
COQUETTE.

When Harry Radcliffe married Co
quet,e Carson it had been gen.
une lovc-match. COquelte was one of
large family OF dewy-eyed. rose-lipped
girls. whose faces were their fortunes.
At all events. other fortunes they had
none. And the other five sisters secret
ly envied Coguette when the haud>omc
young artist took her away with half
dozen new gowns. 4 box OF initiated
Observation-Disclosures and u bonnet
fsesh from the little milliner's around
the corner.
To De sure, Harry was not rich, but
it was only question of time, argued
the five sisters. how soon he should be
famous as Meissonier. rich rs Cr1sus
An artist like him was sure to succeed
''And what fun it would be to visit
Coquette when she should be rich and
famous" cried the five. in chorus.
Il haven't much faith in artists"
Old Colonel Carson said, obviously.
but Coquette liked the fellow, so what
could | say?"
So Harry carried the village beauty
off to his studio at the top of the
Wycherly Building, where the walls
were painted terra-cotta color, the doors
draped with gorgeous Oriental stuffs,
and every corner filled with picturesque
tables. high-shouldered Japanese vases.
and quaint folding screens.
'How do you like it. darling?" he
cried, cxultantly.
Its beautiful" Coquette answered.
with shy sidelong. glance at the dunn
p,v which .lrasSad in ..Afor; Anto;p
cite" costume, leaned up against the
corner of the wall. as if '.Marie Antoi-
nette" had had too much to drink.
''But thought. Harry. it was suite"
so it is!' cried the young artist.
pulling aside sage-green drapery.
with dadoes OF Pompeian-red plush.
"And here's the bedroom"
Il should call it an slcove, Harryw
"Well. it's plenty big enough to
sleep in; and here" opening the door
of = tiny. three-cornered nook. lis a
dressing-room. What could one want
more. should like to know?"
Coquette tried to smile. The old
house at home had been so roomy. so
spacious! And here. in this cramped-
mp corner. she felt as if she could scarce
" breathe.
Have you many orders, Harry?"
said she. glancing around at the pict-
ures in various stages of completion
that lined the studio walls.
We'll. no-not many yet Not any.
in fact" he added. laughing and color
ing. But, OF course, Ishall have plenty
one Of these days A man has to work
his way up, you know"
But Harry"
"Well?"
"How do you liver'
'Eh?" he questioned, blandly.
Those beautiful Jacquiminot roses
on the table. Harry. and the hot-house
apricots and nectarines in the gilded
basket, and the wicker-chsir tied with
pink ribbons-surely all those things
must be expensivee'
He laughed.
They would be, if had paid for
EN-" said he, "but haven't"
"Oh. Harryy'
"It's time enough" he said. careless
y. Those fellows always send in
their bills long before one wants ON.
Nobody pays ready money for such
things; and I supposed You would be
pleased with them"
$50 am, dear" cried Coquette, over
whelmed with . sense Of her own in
gratitude; land it was so good of you
to think Of them. But-but we are not
rich people-and papa always says that
economy is better than wealth-and
since you really have no orders as yet,
don't you think we ought to be very
careful of how We spend our money:
And. Harry-I have been brought up
to manage all the household affairs
If you would only trust me with the